New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-30
SUSPENDED IN The FLAMES.
LIVES LOST IN A BURNING TENEMENT.

sELF-sACRIFICING HBROIsM OF CHICAGO FIRE
MAN-Two PERSONS KILLED AND ELEVEN
HURT.
CHICAGO, July 29.-Fire discovered in the bakery
OF Chris" Hefen, at No. 3,165 Archer-ave, at 340
q. m. to-day. The building tenement house For O
time the fire smouldered and nothing thought Of it
Shortly after o'clock It discovered that number
OF people living In the building either dead dying
from tho smoke and flames. The remen and police hur
red into the building and soon began bearns out un-
conscious bodies until all the people had been removed
Among those rescued Nelson Trugo and TO- Of his
children Mrs. Trugo and her babe age two, were neg
lected in the confusion Of the moment Tas poor
woman appeared at a window. fireman saw ner, and
plunging back through the reached her chamber
All escape from the with such burden IS woman
child impossible. He thought OF the BEDFORD,
and tearing out bound the woman and her baby with
IT, and pushed them through the window. He played
the rope until from the and smoke he ready
to fall to the oo when he fastened the upper end to the
bed post and fed. Far from accomplishing his gallant
purpose he had but surely compassed tho destruction
OF those he sought to His rope too short and
instead Of dropping the and child to the ground,
within reach OF those below he had suspended them
in front Of first floor window FROM which the fire poured
from furnace door, She swung there ten or twelve
feet from the ground wrthng shrekng, struggling as
the fire swept of her garments, choked and actually
broed alive, the baby in her BY the most singu-
lar fatality flames which destroying her left the
rope intact. IL became necessity not 70 save the
woman least the revolving sight This duty
was undertaken by Captain William H. Cowan Of Truck
No 8. seizpg ladder. he threw 1t up to
the blazing window and with an axe
deliberately entered the flames and as they encircled
him from helmet to boots struck at the rope He could
and struck with inaccurate aim. Once, twice.
the clothing fell from him. he struck In vain AZ the
third stroke the blade cut the rope simultaneously the
burning ladder broke and the three blazing human be.
ngs fell to the ground The baby was already Dead tile
mother ded few hours later. and the Captain lies In
his home In what is thought To be his death agones
The other persons injured were Nelson Irugo. Adele
Trugo; Nelson Trugo. jr, age twelve Della Trugo, ago
nine Lizzie Trugo age fourteen Joseph rruSo, age ten
Mr. Bonner. Mrs. Bonner; Philip Bonner, age seven
and Annie Drew. The 1rugo children were almost
sufocated and 1t Is feared may die Mrs. Bonner, Also
Is expected 10 die.
The fire was caused By pot OF boiling lard being up
set Haffen and his family occupied the second story
but they all escaped In safety The unfortunate Trugo
family lived the floor above In the rear while the
Bonners lived on the top floor.
Two bakers Essen and Ansbetcher who are believed 70
be responbc the neglect which caused the hre have
beer arrested. The police say tho pair had become
drowsy drink, and instead OF Watching the stove
they aud the tenants above were at the mercy OF tho
flames.
young girl. Annie Drew. age eighteen. who boarded
with the Trugo family carried down stairs py the
hremen She is badly injured but will recover